The following page outlines the Student Feedback Survey which was completed by my students, together with an analysis of the results.
The survey questions were designed to primarily evaluate the students' reaction to using online tools in a language learning context and, secondly, the potential for using these tools in foreign language acquisition. The students were also asked to rate the choice of tools used and their ease of use as well as the potential for using the same tools in other academic contexts.
The results of the survey were extremely encouraging. The students overwhelmingly approved of my initiative to introduce the use of free online tools in the context of their ESL class and the majority of them also felt that such tools could significantly help them to improve their foreign language skills. They generally found the tools 'easy' or 'relatively easy' to use and most of them claimed that they would use the same tools for other purposes outside their ESL class.
However a number of students also responded that they didn't want a systematic use of such tools - which reinforces my belief that a blended approach is best in the context of a foreign language class and as a result, it is not necessary to invest in an expensive language learning platform. The fact that the majority of the students were not aware of (or had never worked with) the three tools used, shows that Net Generation students are not necessarily as CIT-savvy as literature portrays them to be. HEIs, therefore, really do have a role to play in preparing them to be able to work and learn in today’s information society.
STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY CONCERNING WEB 2.0 TOOLS USED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN IDRAC ESL MODULE
Please respond to the following questions concerning your experience using Web 2.0 tools in the context of your English course. Please tick the response that best corresponds to your opinion. 1. How would you rate the online tools used in your English course this semester, N° 1 being the tool you liked best and N°3 being the one you liked the least. • Podcasts ¨ · Jing ¨ · MailVu ¨ 2. Did you appreciate your teacher’s initiative to make use of Web 2.0 tools as part of the pedagogy and would you like to see other language teachers use them in their courses too? · Yes, definitely ¨ · Yes, but it depends on the course ¨ · Yes, but not systematically ¨ · I’m not sure ¨ · No, definitely not ¨
3. Concerning the different tools used, would you say they were: · Very easy to use and navigate ¨ · Relatively easy to use and navigate ¨ · Sometimes easy to use and navigate but not always ¨ · Rather difficult to use and navigate ¨ · Very difficult to use and navigate ¨
4. Do you feel that such Web 2.0 tools can really help you to improve your foreign language skills? · Yes, definitely ¨ · Yes, but it depends on the language ¨ · Yes, but not systematically ¨ · I’m not sure ¨ · No, definitely not ¨
5. Do you think you will use any of the same tools for other purposes other than language learning? • Yes, definitely ¨ · Yes, but it depends on the course ¨ · Yes, but not systematically ¨ · I’m not sure ¨ · No, definitely not ¨
STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY RESULTS CONCERNING WEB 2.0 TOOLS USED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN IDRAC ESL MODULE
Rating the online tools How would you rate the online tools used in your English course this semester, N°1 being the tool you liked best and N°3 being the one you liked least?
Rating the online tools
Nb. cit. (rang 1)
Fréq.
Nb. cit. (rang 2)
Fréq.
Nb. cit. (rang 3)
Fréq.
Nb. cit. (somme)
Fréq.
Podcasts
8
18.2%
28
63.6%
8
18.2%
44 (2.00)
100%
Jing
15
34.1%
12
27.3%
17
38.6%
44 (1.96)
100%
MailVu
21
47.7%
4
9.1%
19
43.2%
44 (2.05)
100%
TOTAL OBS.
44
44
44
44
Appreciation of online tools initiative Did you appreciate your teacher's initiatve to make use of Web 2.0 tools as part of the pedagogy and would you like to see other language teachers use them in their courses too?
Appreciation of online tools initiative
Nb. cit.
Fréq.
Yes, definitely
21
47.7%
Yes, but it depends on the course
12
27.3%
Yes, but not systematically
10
22.7%
I'm not sure
1
2.3%
No, definitely not
0
0.0%
TOTAL OBS.
44
100%
Ease of use and navigation Concerning the different tools used, would you say they were:
Ease of use and navigation
Nb. cit.
Fréq.
Very easy to use and navigate
13
29.6%
Relatively easy to use and navigate
19
43.2%
Sometimes easy to use and navigate but not always
12
27.3%
Rather difficult to use and navigate
0
0.0%
Very difficult to use and navigate
0
0.0%
TOTAL OBS.
44
100%
Improvement of language skills Do you feel that such Web 2.0 tools can really help you to improve your foreign language skills?
Improvement of language skills
Nb. cit.
Fréq.
Yes, definitely
19
43.2%
Yes, but it depends on the language
12
27.3%
Yes, but no systematically
9
20.5%
I'm not sure
4
9.1%
No, definitely not
0
0.0%
TOTAL OBS.
44
100%
Other uses of the online tools Do you think you will use any of the same tools for other purposes other than language learning?
The survey questions were designed to primarily evaluate the students' reaction to using online tools in a language learning context and, secondly, the potential for using these tools in foreign language acquisition. The students were also asked to rate the choice of tools used and their ease of use as well as the potential for using the same tools in other academic contexts.
The results of the survey were extremely encouraging. The students overwhelmingly approved of my initiative to introduce the use of free online tools in the context of their ESL class and the majority of them also felt that such tools could significantly help them to improve their foreign language skills. They generally found the tools 'easy' or 'relatively easy' to use and most of them claimed that they would use the same tools for other purposes outside their ESL class.
However a number of students also responded that they didn't want a systematic use of such tools - which reinforces my belief that a blended approach is best in the context of a foreign language class and as a result, it is not necessary to invest in an expensive language learning platform. The fact that the majority of the students were not aware of (or had never worked with) the three tools used, shows that Net Generation students are not necessarily as CIT-savvy as literature portrays them to be. HEIs, therefore, really do have a role to play in preparing them to be able to work and learn in today’s information society.
STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY CONCERNING WEB 2.0 TOOLS
USED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN IDRAC ESL MODULE
Please respond to the following questions concerning your experience using Web 2.0 tools in the context of your English course. Please tick the response that best corresponds to your opinion.
1. How would you rate the online tools used in your English course this semester, N° 1 being the tool you liked best and N°3 being the one you liked the least.
• Podcasts ¨
· Jing ¨
· MailVu ¨
2. Did you appreciate your teacher’s initiative to make use of Web 2.0 tools as part of the pedagogy and would you like to see other language teachers use them in their courses too?
· Yes, definitely ¨
· Yes, but it depends on the course ¨
· Yes, but not systematically ¨
· I’m not sure ¨
· No, definitely not ¨
3. Concerning the different tools used, would you say they were:
· Very easy to use and navigate ¨
· Relatively easy to use and navigate ¨
· Sometimes easy to use and navigate but not always ¨
· Rather difficult to use and navigate ¨
· Very difficult to use and navigate ¨
4. Do you feel that such Web 2.0 tools can really help you to improve your foreign language skills?
· Yes, definitely ¨
· Yes, but it depends on the language ¨
· Yes, but not systematically ¨
· I’m not sure ¨
· No, definitely not ¨
5. Do you think you will use any of the same tools for other purposes other than language learning?
• Yes, definitely ¨
· Yes, but it depends on the course ¨
· Yes, but not systematically ¨
· I’m not sure ¨
· No, definitely not ¨
STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY RESULTS CONCERNING WEB 2.0 TOOLS
USED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN IDRAC ESL MODULE
Rating the online tools
How would you rate the online tools used in your English course this semester, N°1 being the tool you liked best and N°3 being the one you liked least?
Appreciation of online tools initiative
Did you appreciate your teacher's initiatve to make use of Web 2.0 tools as part of the pedagogy and would you like to see other language teachers use them in their courses too?
Ease of use and navigation
Concerning the different tools used, would you say they were:
Do you feel that such Web 2.0 tools can really help you to improve your foreign language skills?
Do you think you will use any of the same tools for other purposes other than language learning?